Wrestling

PHILADELPHIA -- Penn wrestling head coach Rob Eiter will be adding another color to his wardrobe later this month, trading in his allegiance to the Red and Blue while leading Team USA in the 2010 FILA World Junior Championships in Budapest, Hungary from July 20-25.

"It is an honor to be chosen to lead this team into the grandest stage of international competition," Eiter said. "We plan on doing everything in our power to put as many wrestlers on the podium as possible and bring home a team title."

The trip to Hungary will not be Eiter's first international coaching endeavor. He has served as head coach of the women's team four times - at the 1999 Women's World Championships, the 2001 Women's Pan-Am Games and both the 2007 and 2008 Women's Junior World Championships. In 2000 and 2001 he was an assistant with the women's team at the World Championships.

Coaching with USA Wrestling was a natural transition for the multi-time Team USA competitor. In 1996, Eiter placed eighth at the Olympics after serving as an alternate on the 1992 team. In 1993 and 1995, he was a member of Team USA at the World Championships to go with five U.S. Open championships and numerous other international entries.

Eiter will be leading a team consisting mainly of collegiate wrestlers with one currently still in high school. Included in the team are 2010 NCAA Champions Matt McDonough from Iowa (60kg.), Boise State's Jason Chamberlain (66kg.), Illinois' Conrad Pulz (74kg.), Oklahoma State's Chris Perry (84kg.) and Ohio's Jeremy Johnson (120kg.).

While in Hungary, Eiter is excited to not only lead his charges into competition but to take the opportunity to compare notes with the finest coaches in the world.

"This is a chance for me to observe and interact with the greatest wrestling minds out there," said the third-year head coach. "I know that our program will benefit from the technique and training tips we share during the competition."

Earlier this summer, Eiter and the team met for training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The junior team worked out at the same time with the senior national team led by former Quaker head coach Zeke Jones and his assistant Brandon Slay - an Olympic Gold Medalist who was a two-time NCAA finalist for the Quakers in 1997 and 1998.

"Having ties to the Penn wrestling program at the national-team level helps us spread the word on how impressive and first-class this team and the University are," said Eiter. "Student-athletes who want to achieve their goals can see that attending Penn and competing on the mat for the Quakers is a viable way to reach those aspirations."